Automobile bumper



May s, 192s. 1,668,811

J. R. .JONES AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Imm/074: -mzw' Jnan.

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Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES amas' n. JoNEs, on UTICA, `Nxzzvv YORK, A'ssrenon'ro rnnnossnnr oonPoRA'rtroN,

'or UTICA, `NEW Yoan, A `comportarmi: or NEWYonK.

AUToMomLn BUMPER.

i'lppniatimiy inea March 11,1926. serial No, 94021.

The present invention relates to bumpers for automobilesand has for its .e object to furnish an improved. bumper for thisL pun poseivhi'ch combines maximum capacity for yielidingl'y` resisted inward motion, when encountering an Obstruction, with minimum bulk, has full freedom for the desired charact-er of buffer motion, and is supported in a Way to minimize undesired looseness and rattling. The precise nature of the improvements of whichV the invention consists appears from the following description in connection With the drawings.

Fig. 1 fsa plan view of a bumper and its supporting brackets in the relationswvhich these members bear lto the chassis of an automobile;

'Fig'. 2 is a rear elevation of the bumper, the` brackets being' shown in section;

Fig'. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and represented ena-n enlarged scale; i

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line s1- A- of Fi 1, also shovvn on an enlarged scale.

reference'cliaracters designate the saine parts in all the ligures Wherever they occur. l

In Fig. 1 the ends of the side rails of an automobile chassis are shown in a fragmentary AWay at l and 2. One of said rails and` the adjacent connected end of tle spring 3 are shown in Fig. 3. Brackets 4 and 5, are secured to` such rails near the ends thereof and entend beyond such ends, terminatinginoutturned lugs 6, to Which the bumper is secured. i

The bumper consists of lan inner orbase har 7., an outer or buffer bar 8, (the bumper proper), connecting and guiding bolts or pins 9, 9, and buffer springs 10, 10V interposed between these bars. iviretcrably a sleeliucmbcr of channel section,`

so made to combine strength with lightness;`

and preferably sov placed that its chan neled side is turned toward the automobile body and receives the brackets, the iianges of which `are riveted or bolted to the intermediate web of this bar. The buffer baiI or buffer proper is preferably made of the same material i and construction, but is longer than the base bar, extending at both ends beyond the ends of the latter, and is curved back at the ends; and is enough Wider than `lie base bar to admit the latter The ybase bar .is

between ,its flanges. The guide bolts pass through holes in the two bars and` each has a head` on one end. and a nut on the other to limit separationof the bars, tbut they are freely movable with respect to at least 'one of the bars so as to permit inward inovementiof the` buffer bar when Astriking an obstacle. lVhile other means than the bolts may be used for connecting the bars together and .limiting theirseparation, I

prefer 'bolts as being 4the simplest and most effective `in this combination. i

rIlle springs 1(7), 10 are of suitable `ribbon or leaf spring stock securedV by rivets or other suitable means to the base bar. There ,are two such springs, each of which is thus secured. to the base bar at or near the points Where the guide bolts are engaged withr the latter. The springs are given a bowed sha e, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, and boti endportions engage the buffer bar between the flanges of the'latter, While .an intermediate port-ion secured to the base bar, The outer extremity, at least, of each spring is given a "Width such that `it will lit closely between the flanges of the buffer bar, as shown at l1 in Figs. 2, 3 and 4t, in order to hold and maintain the buffer bar at such a. height, and in such alinement, with respect to the base bar, that when the buffer bar is forced inward to the limit of motion,` its flanges will passover and embrace the base bar. This function of the springs in supporting the buffer b ar is an iniportant one.y inasmuch as the guide bolts 9, being free in both bars,are not relied on to support the buffer bar; but, on the other hand, the springs prevent lll@ buffer bar from sagging down and from binding or cramping on the guido bolts. The inner extremities of the springs also, or the )vhole or any other part of the length of thesprings, may be made of thelsame WidtljitheV saine purpose, desired; although in these drawings onl),7 the outer extremities are made so wide, and all other parte of the springs are narrower. Y By virtue of the construction and relative proportions of the several parts above described., it follows that when the bumper strikesan obstruction the outer bar is able t0 yield t0, the. ful-1 lmitof the Space between the basebar and the web of tbe buffer bar, its flanges passing in a telescopic manner over the base bar. The springs of course, may be made to oppose as great resistance as Uil nl mi desired to such movement of the outer bar,

and may be designed to oppose increasing resistance to continued movement of this character. Thus provision is made for a movement, and such shocks are absorbed without causing distortion of any part of bumper except the springs,l which are intend ed to be distorted and are capable of a wide range of distortion within the elastic limit. The springs, moreover, are of a simpleV character and support the outer bar, relieving thc guide bolts of any supporting function, and holding the outer bar in such a way as to prevent objectionable rattle and noise.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An automobile bumper comprising a base bar, a buffer bar, said buffer bar being of channel section and having a width enabling its flanges to embrace the base bar, and springs of the leaf spring type interposed between said bars, said springs being secured to the outer side of the base bar'and extending at their ends into the space between the flanges of the outer bar free from positive connection with, and supporting, the latter.

2. An automobile bumper comprising a base har, a buffer bar, said buffer bar being of channel section and having a width enabling its flanges to embrace the base bar, and springs of the leaf Vspring type interposed between said bars, said springs being secured to the outer side of the base bar and extending at their ends into the space between the anges ofl the outer' bar, said springs also being` `in part at least, of a width substantially equal. to the space between thc flanges of the outer bar.

3. An automobile bumper comprising a base bar, a bowed spring secured at a point between its ends to the base bar and inclined outwardly therefrom at its ends, a butter bar engaged with and supported by the outer ends of said spring, but free from positive connection therewith, and separa tion limiting means between said bars retaining the buffer bar against the ends of said spring.

a. An automobile bumper comprising a base bar, a bowed spring secured at a point. between its ends to the base bar and bowed outwardly therefrom at its ends, a buffer bar engaged with and supported by the outer ends of said spring, and separation limiting means between said bars holding the butter bar against the ends of said spring, said the bumper as a whole buffer bar having an upper Vflange which rests on the ends of the spring.

5. An automobile bumper comprising a base bar, a bowed spring secured at a point between its ends to the base bar and bowed outwardly therefrom, at its ends, a butler bar engaged with and supported by the outer ends of said spring, and separation limiting means between Said bars holding the buffer bar against the ends of said spring, said buli'er bar being of channel section with its flanges directed toward the base bar and embracing the ends of the spring, the distance between said flanges being greater than the width of the base bar, and the ends of the spring underlying the upper iange and supporting the same in such a position that when the buffer bar is forced baclrv by an obstruction its flanges will embrace the base bar.

6. An automobile bumper' comprising a base bar, brackets for attaching said bar to the frame of an automobile, bowed leaf springs secured at their intermediate parts to Said base bar and extending at their ends outwardly from the base bar, in inclined relation thereto, and in the opposite direction from said brackets,- a buffer bar having an upper flange directed toward the base bar, engaging and supported by the outer ends of said springs at a height enabling said flange to pass over the base bar when the buffer bar is pressed toward thc base bar, and separation limiting means between the base bar and butter bar arranged to retain the latter in connection with said springs.

7. An automobile bumper comprising a base bar, brackets for attaching said bar` to the frame of an automobile, bowed leaf springs secured at their intermediate Vparts to said base bar and extending at their ends outwardly from thc base bar, in inclined relation thereto, and in the opposite direction from said brackets, a butter bar having an uper flange directed toward the base bar, i

engaging and supported by theouter ends of said springs at a height enabling said flange to pass over the base bar when the butler bar is pressed toward the base bar, and separation limiting means between the base bar and buffer bar' arranged to retain the latter in connection with seid springs; said springs having at both ends free sliding engagement. with the buier bar and being otherwise free from connection therewith, and the separation limiting means being bolts having stop abutments and passing loosely through one of the bars, the weight of the buffer bar being supported wholly by the springs.

In testimony whereof I Vhave aflixed my signature.

JAMES R. JONES. 

